THE MEIKLE CASE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 167, 6 July 1908, Page 2

THE MEIKLE CASE.

SOME JiEMAiIKABLE STATEMENT. In the Douse oS Itepresentativcs cm l'tiiluy tin! Premier intimated Unit Cabinet proposed to ask the .House to inilkc Meikle a payment »i' LoOIJU by way of compensation ]oi' wrongful jmprisoiiiuent.

-Mr. Remington, in reminding the Jlousc tllttt the lloyal Commission's recommendation that the Bill should be a general one, said that the gentleman wiio was junior eounse.l for Meikle during the original trial, 111'. T. P. Finn, hail declared that tile 'claimant was not entitled to a .shilling of the country's money. 11r. Meikle had declared that lie would not be satisfied with less than .120,(100, and it was his belief that the (iovcrnniciiL, liy making a suggestion in regard to payment, was only paving the way for further inroads to tile Treasury.

Mr. llorinby declared it a gross act of iiijiiskc to single out one individual for special treatment when tJiere were other caSes crying for relief. There Has the case of Frcebody, the Carterton fanner, who was released from prison not upon his own representation, and who only wanted the country to tide him Over a couple of years until lie could claim tlie old age pension. "Introduce a Hill for him,'' suggested a inei|iber. "Yes, when lie's lie,id,'' retorted .Mr. Poland.

-Mr. llornsby also mentioned the ease ol the Taraiiaki farmer Xricker, who was wrongfully convicted of murder, hut his innocence was absolutely established after his death. If the (lovcrnuient would include Frcebody and Xricker in the Mill he would support it. The Prime .Minister: I cannot. i don't know anything about the facts. Mr. llornsby moved that the Hill be read that (lav six months.

Mr. llerries declared Mr. Hornsby's attitude to be untenable, lie was saving that, because Freebody had not received justice it should also be denied to Meikle. Jf justice were to be done it should biyl'i.'ne at once. the majority of half a- dozen members who followed favored a general measure. A new element was introduced ly Mr. A. 1!. Barclay, who announced that Meikle had written him last session stating that if he did anything against the Bill he would "deal with him."

Mr. C. 11. l'oolc said he also received a Ipfctcr of intimidation Inst year, lint not from Mr. Mcikle. As ho was nominated to be one of tile committee to assess compensation he "sat tight and Said nothing." Nevertheless lie received a letter stating that, if he refrained from voting for the passage of the Bill 'III! would he severely dealt with. The Premier suid'the Hill whieh hud been brought down was Hie only one that could have been submitted io the J louse. Tile Hill had been brought down by t'lie (.'overniiicnt to go through, and if there were any reasonably amendments he would 'be cpiite willing to consider them when the JSi I [ wis in C'Onunifctop.

The amendment that (lie Bill be read six months hence was lost by 40 votes to 10, and the second read'in"- agreed to, ° "